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Jefferson County School District 509‑J outlines $6.8 million HVAC project including gym air conditioning
Summary
Director of Operations Simon White told the board the HVAC construction contract bid is about $5.1 million and the district's estimated all‑in cost is roughly $6.8 million, with work planned to begin during spring break and complete for the 2026–27 school year; tribal set‑aside funds may offset part of the cost.
Jefferson County School District 509‑J officials told the school board on Oct. 13 that a major HVAC construction contract has been finalized and the district is preparing a multi‑phase installation intended to be ready for the 2026–27 school year.
Director of Operations and Safety Simon White said the construction contract came in at about $5.1 million and the estimated all‑in project cost is “somewhere around $6.8 million,” with a possible $500,000 reduction if contingencies are unused. He said work would start with outside construction during spring break and continue after students leave for the summer, with a strict timeline to return facilities for fall 2026.
White said the project includes installing air conditioning in the district’s main gym and auxiliary gym—two spaces that see heavy community use—and building a boiler‑chiller plant that staff can maintain in the future. He also said the district is exploring tribal set‑aside funds tied to the original building to help offset some of the cost, but tapping that funding requires coordination with tribal leadership.
Board Chair Jacob Struck and White discussed the project contingency; Struck said he “feels we are healthy with the 5% being enough” to cover unexpected costs, and White confirmed unused contingency funds would be returned. White also cautioned that the work will pose scheduling challenges for summer programs and summer school and that staff will need to plan around those impacts.
The board received the update as an informational item; no vote was required that night. Superintendent Jay Mathisen and the operations team said they will return with final contract documents and further scheduling details as the district moves into procurement and construction planning.
What remains open: final, signed contract documents and a confirmed funding breakdown, including whether tribal set‑aside funds will be applied and the precise contingency amount that remains available.
